Student body president, Lily Tate, and health center head, Sherri Winegardner, both share a role in contributing to Bluffton’s campus and students. After the adaptations made this past year, Tate and Winegardner share their hopes and thoughts as to what next year could potentially look like.
Winegardner had spent the last year being the head of the campus health center. She worked from there 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day so students could come see her with any concerns, as well as receive COVID-19 rapid tests as needed by the campuses #protectthedam initiative.
A lot appears to still be up in the air as discussions are still taking place on campus, but Winegardner hopes every one apart of the university community will know more by July. Another major factor to be monitored as time goes on pertains to what Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine decides, as the amount of COVID-19 cases are tracked.
Winegardner also touched on the impact vaccines will have on decisions. The desired amount of vaccinated people has not been reached quite yet, so the summer’s trajectory will play a huge role in how the university decides what will be best for everyone on campus to remain safe.
“We could be in the classroom with masks, or in the classroom without masks and just more distancing,” said Winegardner.
Tate also touched on people’s decision in receiving the vaccine.
Student Senate President, Lily Tate. Photo by Lily Tate.
“I know that the more people that get vaccinated, the better the chances are for us not having to wear masks,” said Tate. “At the same time, one of our core values is respect so I assume that each student will be entitled to their own decision for whether they receive a vaccination or not. Nevertheless, even if some students choose to not get vaccinated, I am hoping that we can begin to not be so spread apart in our classes, and that the mask mandate will not be as strict.”
In being elected student body president, Tate is dedicated to having conversations and making changes based on feedback she receives from the student body.
“With all of the changes or improvements we are making, we are trying to base it entirely off of student feedback,” said Tate. “Feedback can be hard to get but we are really trying by sending out surveys, providing a suggestion drop box by the front mail desk, having a weekly Instagram polling, and by having face-to-face conversations with students all around campus. We collect all of the information we receive, and we discuss it at our weekly meetings where we try to brainstorm ways to address the issue/suggestion.”
The general sentiment on campus is that many are tired of wearing masks. Though many people share this opinion, Tate thinks it is highly likely students, faculty and staff will have to wear masks inside especially being in larger crowds.
Since the pandemic started, there has been a huge strain on people and a lot more reliance on therapy to help deal with stress and depression. Because of this, Tate and the rest of the student senate members on campus plan on creating a bigger emphasis on mental health available on campus in the coming year.
“All in all, at the end of the day, our health is the most important thing, and I hope that Bluffton makes decisions that positively impact all of us,” said Tate.
